International Solidarity Report - Canadian Union of Public Employees

International policy
Our union has a long tradition of international work in many key policy areas.
Water
CUPE, along with the Council of Canadians and the Polaris Institute, is pursuing
a more active role in Red Vida, a coordinated effort supported by PSI to resist
the privatization of water across the hemisphere. In March 2006, CUPE delegates
participated in a people’s counter-conference at the World Water Forum meetings
in Mexico City. Our delegates included Frank Mentes, regional vice-president for
Saskatchewan and Rodger Oakley (CUPE 401), chair of the Vancouver Island Water
Watch, along with two CUPE staff members.
Health care
In 2003, CUPE hosted the first health care workers exchange with five health
care unions from Central and South America. In 2004, CUPE participated in
and supported the second exchange in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and organized
participation and financial support from the Canadian Auto Workers and the
Steelworkers. Representatives from health unions in Argentina, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay,
Uruguay, and Venezuela attended.
In May 2006, the Cuban Health Care Workers Union and the CTC (similar to
the CLC) hosted the third exchange with 80 delegates representing 23 countries.
CUPE’s delegation included: Pearl Blommaert (national health and safety committee
co-chair), Nancy Ingalls (national health issues committee member), Serge Lalonde
(national health issues committee member), Bonifacio Barcia (CUPE/HEU), Louis
Rodrigues (CUPE/OCHU), CUPE Ontario president and general vice-president Sid
Ryan. Staff support was provided by Gwen Hewitt, CUPE’s representative on the
health workers exchange secretariat. Edgar Godoy worked with other Canadian
labour affiliates to participate and support this growing movement. CUPE’s global
justice fund contributes to the cost of the event and of supporting the participation
of unions from South and Central America and the Caribbean.
C A N A D I A N U N I O N O F P U B L I C E M P L O Y E E S
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